Sarah’s Joy – The Birth Of Isaac, The Promised Son (G-21-HBS)

THE BIRTH OF ISAAC

In the preceding chapter, we saw the sin that must be dealt with, confessed, and put away before Isaac could be born to Abraham and Sarah.

Now in chapter 21 we have the birth of Isaac.

Isaac was in this a type of Christ, that Seed which God has so long promised, and long expected by Sarah and Abraham.

He was born according to the promise, at the set time of which God had spoken.

God’s promised mercies will certainly come at the time in which He sets, and that is the best time which is always on time.

Genesis 21:1-8 KJV

[1] And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

[2] For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

[3] And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

[4] And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

[5] And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

[6] And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

[7] And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

[8] And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

Genesis 21:1 KJV

And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.


  • You will notice that there is a very striking similarity between the birth of Isaac and the birth of Christ.
  • I believe that the birth of Isaac was given to us to set before mankind this great truth before Christ came.

Genesis 21:2 KJV

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.


  • Isaac was born at the set time God had promised, and Paul says, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law” (Gal. 4:4).

Genesis 21:3 KJV

And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.


  • The name Isaac means “laughter,” When Sarah received the promise, she laughed with distrust and doubt.
  • There are some very remarkable truths here that we need to lay hold of.
  • When God gives us the mercies we began to despair of, we ought to remember with sorrow and shame our sinful distrust of his power and promise, when we were in pursuit of them.
  • This mercy filled Sarah with joy and wonder.

Genesis 21:4 KJV

And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.


  • The birth of Isaac was a miraculous birth. It was contrary to nature.
  • God’s Blessings to His covenant people surpass their own and others’ thoughts and expectations.

Genesis 21:5 KJV

And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.


  • In the fourth chapter of Romans, Paul writes that Abraham “. . . considered not his own body now dead . . . neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb” (Rom. 4:19).
  • Out of death God brings forth life: this is a miraculous birth.

Genesis 21:6 KJV

And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.


  • We need to call attention to the fact that God did not flash the supernatural birth of Christ on the world as being something new.
  • He began to prepare men for it, and therefore way back here at the birth of Isaac we have a miraculous birth.

Genesis 21:7 KJV

And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.


  • We also find here that God had to deal with both Sarah and Abraham.
  • They had to recognize that they could do nothing, that it would be impossible for them to have a child.
  • Abraham is 100 years old; Sarah is 90 years old. In other words, the birth of Isaac must be a birth that they really have nothing to do with.

Genesis 21:8 KJV

And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.


  • This little fellow first lived by feeding on his mother’s milk, but there came a day when he had to be weaned. Even this has a lesson for us.
  • When mamma is getting the bottle ready for the little baby in the crib, everything in his entire body is working.
  • He’s got his feet up in the air, he’s got his hands up in the air, and he’s yelling at the top of his voice—he wants his bottle!
  • “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).
  • It is wonderful to be a new Christian with an appetite like that for the milk of the Word.
  • The day comes when you are ready to start growing up as a believer.
  • Instead of just reading Psalm 23 and John 14—wonderful as they are—try reading through the entire Bible.
  • Grow up. Don’t be a babe all of the time.
  • Notice God’s admonishment in Hebrews 5:13–14. “For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age . . .” Grow up, friends.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

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